Kent, Giants Agree on Extension

Infielder Jeff Kent and the San Francisco Giants agreed Thursday to an $18-million, three-year contract extension.

Kent is getting $3.25 million this season, the final year of a $6.1-million, two-year deal, and had a $3.55-million player option for 1999.

Under the new contract, Kent gets $5.7 million in 1999 and $6 million in each of the following two seasons. The Giants have a $6-million option for 2002 with a $300,000 buyout.

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Left-hander Joel Adamson, the No. 5 starter in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation, needs surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff. The surgery will take place as soon as it can be scheduled.

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The New York Yankees and Adidas dropped their antitrust lawsuit against baseball, and owner George Steinbrenner was reinstated to the sport’s ruling executive council.

As part of the settlement, baseball and Adidas signed a licensing and advertising agreement. Also, the Yankees agreed to pay the legal fees of the commissioner’s office, which totaled about $500,000, according to an official who spoke on the condition he not be identified.

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The Detroit Tigers put infielder Bill Ripken on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 26th, because of an injured left knee.